Did a mother trade her teenage daughter for financial gain? This is what detectives from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit are trying to find out as they turn to mobile phone records to trace the flow of money between a German tourist and a Kenyan woman.
The German national, Traumer Reinhard, has already been charged with several offences under the Sexual Offences Act.
Investigators are now focusing on the woman suspected of facilitating the crime by allegedly using the 16-year-old minor’s older sister’s identification documents to present the girl as an adult, before handing her over to the foreigner. Documents filed before the Shanzu Law Courts paint the disturbing picture of a parent, who was expected to protect her child, allegedly playing a role in facilitating her violation.
The Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
According to an affidavit sworn by Sergeant Wycliffe Jefwa, an officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit, Reinhard was arrested on February 24, 2026 at an apartment in Nyali, Mombasa County.
He was presented before the court on February 27 for plea taking on a charge of defilement, but the charge sheet was later amended on March 2 to include trafficking.
Court documents show that the German is facing charges of trafficking in persons, defilement and committing an indecent act with a minor.
The nature of the investigation and circumstances of the case prompted the State to direct its transfer from Bamburi Tourist Police Unit, where it was initially handled, to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit.
The probe has since expanded to include the minor’s mother, identified in court documents as C.W., who was arrested on allegations that she received payments from the German to facilitate the offence.
However, the woman was later released on police cash bail to allow detectives to conclude investigations.
Last week, detectives moved to court seeking orders to conduct forensic extraction and analysis of mobile phones recovered from the German suspect, the minor and the mother.
“C.W. is the mother of the minor survivor and was arrested on allegations of having received payments from the German in order to perpetrate the offence,” the court heard.
Investigators believe the devices may contain crucial material evidence, including communication records and financial transaction details that could help establish the flow of money and coordination between the suspects.
Police are focusing on a woman suspected of facilitating her daughter's rights abuse by allegedly using her older sister’s ID to present the girl as an adult.
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According to charges read out in court, the German is accused that between February 13 and 25 he recruited, transported, harboured and received the 16-year-old child for the purpose of exploitation including, but not limited to, forced labour, begging and sexual exploitation.
The suspect, also known by the alias “Mzungu,” is further charged with defiling the minor between February 7 and February 24.
The German has since denied the charges and is out on a Sh500,000 bond with one surety of a similar amount. This followed a failed attempt by police to have the tourist denied bond.
